The purpose of these provisions is to promote consistency and precision in the interpretation of the graphics ordinance. As used in this chapter the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
ABANDONED SIGN OR GRAPHIC. A sign or graphic which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person, advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, project or activity conducted or product available on the premises where such sign is displayed.
ALTER. To change the size, shape, color, face, height or other similar characteristics of a graphic.
AMORTIZATION. The elimination of nonconforming graphics over time in accordance with the schedule set forth in this chapter.
ANIMATED SIGN. A sign having action, motion, movement, changeable copy, or flashing color changes that are activated by electrical energy, electronic energy or other manufactured sources of energy supply, but not including wind-activated movement such as in flags, banners or pennants, or mechanical movement signs. Animated signs include grids of flashing lights or mechanical elements in patterns that give the perception of movement, as in chasing lights or programmable displays. For purposes of this chapter, an animated sign shall not be considered a mechanical movement sign if the only mechanical movement in the sign relates to the movement of grids to produce programmable displays.
APPEAL. A procedure whereby any person aggrieved by any decision or order of the Building & Zoning Official in any matter related to the interpretation or enforcement of this chapter may seek relief from the Planning Commission.
AREA. The total square footage of the entire sign surface but excluding the supporting structure. If a sign is attached to a building or suspended in any manner whereby there is no apparent trim or confining border, the area shall be the total square footage of the smallest rectangle that will enclose all letters, words, numbers, pictures, designs, sketches, and symbols only.
AWNING. Any structure made of cloth, metal, or other material attached to a building when the same is so erected as to permit its being raised or retracted to a position against the building when not in use.
BEACON LIGHT. Rotating or flashing lights used to attract the attention of surrounding vehicles and pedestrians.
BILLBOARD. See OFF-PREMISES GRAPHIC.
BUILDING & ZONING OFFICIAL. The Building & Zoning Official or his designee.
BUILDING FACE OR WALL. All window and wall areas of a building in one plane or elevation. Building face shall not include shingled or other roofing area.
CANOPY. A structure, similar to an awning, made of cloth, metal or other material with frames attached to a building, and carried by a frame supported by the ground or sidewalks.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign which has the provision for changing the letters or characters either manually or electronically.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD. An electronically or electrically controlled sign or portion of a larger sign whereon different messages are displayed including, but not necessarily limited to public service messages, advertising for the business or businesses on-site, projection of on-site activities in real-time time and temperature and the like. The message boards shall include those devices that display information using panels of individual lamps, rotating panels, liquid crystal displays or similar technology or rear projection screens.
ESTABLISHMENT. Either of the following:
(1) An institutional, business, commercial, or industrial activity that is the sole occupant of one or more buildings; or
(2) An institutional, business, commercial, or industrial activity that occupies a portion of a building such that:
(a) The activity is a logical and separate entity from the other activities within the building and not a department of the whole; and
(b) The activity has either a separate entrance from the exterior of the building, or a separate entrance from a common and clearly defined entryway that has direct access to the exterior of the building.
EXEMPT GRAPHIC. A graphic not subject to the provisions of this chapter as enumerated in the permitted graphics section.
FLASHING ILLUMINATION GRAPHIC. Illumination of a graphic wherein such illumination is not maintained constant in intensity, color and pattern during all times the graphic is activated.
FLUSH-MOUNTED GRAPHIC. Any graphic attached to, erected against, or painted on a wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the graphic in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the wall and not projecting more than 18 inches from the closest point of the wall and not extending more than three feet above the building or structure roof line.
FREESTANDING GRAPHIC. A graphic supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces placed in or upon the ground.
FRONTAGE. The linear extent of the lot abutting a street or public roadway, except shopping center frontage which is further defined.
GASOLINE AND OIL SERVICE STATIONS. Any business which dispenses, or is designed to dispense, gasoline and/or oil for use in motor vehicles or boats, e.g., automobile and truck service stations, convenience stores with gasoline pumps.
GRAPHIC. Any identification or advertising sign visible from the public right-of-way or from any parking area used by the general public.
GRAPHIC FOR USE FOR A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME. Any graphic displayed for use for a limited period of time.
HISTORIC SIGN STATUS. A sign or graphic, which in the opinion of a majority of the Planning Commission has significant historic significance.
MARQUEE. Any basically horizontal awning-like structure of permanent construction projecting from the wall of a building.
MESSAGE. A communication of identification or advertising information visually perceived which may consist of words, abbreviations, numbers, symbols, pictures, geometric shapes, etc.
MOBILE/PORTABLE GRAPHIC. A term commonly used to mean any graphic not designed to be permanently attached to a building or anchored to the ground, and designed to be moved from place to place. Such graphics primarily include, but are not limited to, signs attached to wood or metal frames designed to be self-supporting and movable.
MONUMENT GRAPHIC. A large, freestanding, weather-resistant ground graphic with little or no space between the sign and the ground. Monument signs are permanently fixed to the ground by a solid base and are not connected to a building.
NONCONFORMING GRAPHIC. Any graphic which existed on the effective date of this chapter (or amendment thereto), but which does not comply with the regulations set forth herein.
OFF-PREMISES GRAPHIC. A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise, service, or entertainment, which is not sold, produced, manufactured, or furnished at the property on which said sign is located.
PERMANENT SIGN. Any sign designed and intended to be permanently affixed to the ground, a building or other permanent structure. Signs originally designed and manufactured to be portable shall not be considered permanent even if modified and permanently affixed to the ground, a building or other permanent structure.
PROJECTING GRAPHIC. Any graphic, other than a flush-mounted graphic, which is supported by any exterior wall of a building or suspended beneath any awning, canopy or marquee with the exposed face of said graphic in a plane approximately perpendicular to the plane of the wall and projecting more than 18 inches and no more than three feet from the wall of a building to which it is attached.
ROOF. Any part of the outside top covering of a building, including any eave or other extension of the covering beyond the wall.
ROOFLINE. The edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette, or the side of the building where the graphic is located.
ROOF-MOUNTED GRAPHIC. Any graphic erected, maintained or displayed on the roof of any building or structure.
SHOPPING/OFFICE CENTER. Any building or group of buildings that is under single ownership or control that provides common off-street parking facilities and that is occupied by two or more retail sales and/or nonretail office establishments.
SHOPPING/OFFICE CENTER IDENTIFICATION FRONTAGE. Lineal frontage of the development abutting a street or public roadway.
SHOPPING/OFFICE CENTER IDENTIFICATION SIGN. Any sign identifying a building or group of buildings that is under single ownership or control that provides common off-street parking facilities and that is occupied by two or more retail sales and/or nonretail office establishments.
SHOPPING/OFFICE CENTER OUTLOT. A portion of the original shopping/office center tract sold or otherwise conveyed off to a separately-owned or controlled entity.
SHOPPING/OFFICE CENTER OUTLOT FRONTAGE. The width of the outlot that faces the shopping center frontage.
SHOPPING/OFFICE CENTER RETAIL AND NONRETAIL STOREFRONT. The physical limits of the storefront.
SIGN. Any object, device, display or structure or part thereof, whether located inside or outside a building, which is visible from any lot line, and the primary purpose of which is the conveyance of an idea, advertising, endorsement, identification, or information by means of visual symbols, lettering, illustration or any other means of directing attention or communicating a message.
SIGN WALKER. A sign held by or attached to a human for the purposes of advertising or otherwise drawing attention to an individual, business, commodity, service, activity, or product. A person dressed in costume for the purpose of advertising or otherwise drawing attention to an individual, business, commodity, service, activity, or product shall also be construed as a human sign.
SNIPE SIGN. A sign which is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to a tree, pole, fence, public bench, streetlight pole, or other object, or on any public property or within the right-of-way.
SPECIAL EVENT. A special, promotional event by a local business or non-profit organization involving the temporary display and/or sale of merchandise, entertainment or food and beverage sales where the event does not exceed ten consecutive days.
STREET. A public thoroughfare, maintained by the State of Illinois, township, county, or city which affords the principal means of access to abutting property.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign, banner or other advertising device or display constructed of cloth, canvas, cardboard, wallboard, or other light temporary materials, with or without a structural frame, intended for a temporary period of display, including for illustrative purposes but not limited to garage sales, private parties, candidacy for public or private office, local referenda, public demonstrations, business special events, non-profit organizations/events located in the city limits.
WINDOW GRAPHIC. Any graphic visible from the exterior of building which is painted on, affixed to, or otherwise attached to the exterior of a window or depicted upon the exterior of a window. A permanent window sign is one that is intended to remain on display for 30 days or more; a temporary window sign is one that is intended to remain on display for a shorter time period.
(Ord. 2014-02, passed 1-21-2014; Ord. 2016-05, passed 3-21-2016; Ord. 2024-56, passed 9-16-2024)